Wilbur Wendell Ball

Wilbur Wendell Ball, our beloved father and grandfather, went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 10, 2015. He was born on October 9, 1921 to Willard and Stella Ball. Wilbur was raised with his six siblings; his brother Eugene and his sister’s Sis (Georgia), Lyndell, Louise, Bonnie, and Margie in Woodward, Oklahoma. In 1942 Wilbur married Alberta Mae Phillips, his first beloved wife, on February 7, 1942. Shortly after they were married, Wilbur would have to leave his new bride to serve our great country overseas in WWII, as a Corporal in the Army Air Corps; thankfully he returned to us our hero.

Wilbur and Alberta would be blessed with four beautiful children; Karan, Sharon, Larry, and Wendy Sue. Wilbur worked hard for his family and hired on with Long Bell Lumber; quickly moving up into management. Sadly, on September 14, 1953, his beloved Alberta would leave his side too soon as she went to be with her Lord and Savior. A few years later he would meet his beloved Laura Marie Reimer, and on July 14, 1957 she would become his second wife. A couple of years later, Wilbur would again be blessed with a child as he and Laura welcomed their son Gary Lee.

Over the next many years, Wilbur’s life would be fully blessed as his children married and made him a grandfather. Karan blessed her dad with Cindy, Kathy, Kris, and Cheryl; Sharon blessed her dad with Robbie, Scott, and Aron; Larry blessed his dad with Michael, Rachel, Kevin, and Keith; Wendy Sue blessed her dad with Leah and Jason, and Gary blessed his dad with Brandy, Eric, and Brent.

Wilbur would continue working for Long Bell Lumber, which was bought by International Paper Company, retiring from the south Oklahoma City yard after 47 years in management. Wilbur also took up many hobbies over the years from building houses to flying airplanes, but his most favorite hobby by far were his horses. Wilbur had horses all his life and was a true cowboy at heart, but when he retired he decided he should take up team roping to stay active; he was the header and was pretty good at it. Wilbur rode his horses in many parades, and would continue team roping well into his 80’s.

Our dad had an infectious smile, just ask anyone who knew him. He loved all of his family very much and with every new addition to the family he and Laura would say a prayer for them. Sadly, on October 25, 2013 Wilbur’s beloved wife Laura would go to be with her Lord and Savior. He stayed surrounded by family as his own health began to fail. He was particularly fond of his visits with his little great granddaughter Aurora whose smile could light up her Pops heart like no one else could.

Wilbur is survived by his sister Lyndell, her husband Kenneth, and their family; Sister Louise, her husband Virgil, and their family; Daughter Karan, her husband Gary, and their family; Daughter Sharon and her family; Son Larry, his wife Ruth, and their family; Daughter Wendy Sue, her husband Joe, and their family; Son Gary, his wife Lisa, and their family; and many other precious family members and friends whom he loved dearly.

We invite you to celebrate our Dad’s life with us at 1:00 p.m. Friday August 14, 2015 at Country Estates Baptist Church 1000 S Midwest Blvd, Midwest City, Oklahoma 73110; interment at Arlington Memory Gardens will follow the service. His smile will be forever imprinted on our hearts so he will never be too far away. We love you Dad, rest in heavenly peace.